Police are searching for women in connection with Puna shooting Wednesday (March 30)

Hawaiʻi Island Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating two women wanted for questioning in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday (March 29) in the Puna District.

Police are seeking Jerrilyn Ann Rego and Larissa Naleikailima Padamada, both 26-years-old and last known to reside in the Kaʻu District.

Rego is described as 5-foot-2, 120 pounds, with a slim build, black hair, brown eyes with a lightly tanned complexion. She has numerous tattoos including a “tribal” tattoo on her upper right arm, “Chelbie” on her outer right forearm, and “Rego” on the right side of her neck.

Padamada is described as 5-foot-6, 200 pounds, with a heavy build, brown hair and brown eyes and having a tanned complexion.

On Wednesday evening (March 29), at around 10 p.m., police responded to a request for assistance at a convenience store parking lot in Kurtistown. Upon arriving, the officer observed a man and woman involved in a struggle near a vehicle. The vehicle then struck the man who dropped toward the ground and disappeared from the officer’s view. In the process of fleeing, the suspect’s vehicle also struck the officer’s vehicle. In response to the imminent danger, the officer fired two shots toward the suspect’s vehicle which was later located abandoned in the Glenwood area. The victim that was struck by the suspect vehicle, a 54-year-old male from Kea‘au, was taken to the Hilo Medical Center where he was treated and later released.

The officer who fired his weapon has just less than two years of law enforcement experience.

Police have initiated a second degree assault investigation, as well as several traffic related violations.

As is standard practice in any police shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.

Police ask that anyone with information about this incident or knows the whereabouts of Rego or Padamada contact Detective Dean Uyetake of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

While responding to a request for assistance at a convenience store parking lot in Kurtistown, an officer observed a vehicle to strike a man who dropped toward the ground and disappeared from the officer’s view. As the vehicle fled the scene, the officer was still unable to identify the location of the man who had been struck and felt the man’s life may have been in danger. In the process of fleeing, the suspect vehicle also struck the officer’s vehicle. In response to the imminent danger, the officer fired two shots toward the vehicle which continued onto Highway 11 heading South in the Volcano direction. The vehicle was later located abandoned in the Glenwood area. The male victim who had been struck by the suspect vehicle was taken to the Hilo Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries and later released.

The officer who fired his weapon has just less than two years of law enforcement experience.

Police have initiated a second degree assault investigation, as well as accompanying traffic related violations.

As is standard practice in any police shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information about it to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.